161 To Go

During lunch, Bill finds something exasperating on the web …

Bill:
You see this interview with Stout over at Red Sox Nation dot net?

 

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Mike:
No, whazzup?

 

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Bill:
Stout's nails the owners by pointing out how front offices salaries, which they totally control, have escalated in line with player salaries.

 

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Mike:
Hmm … I guess I've never thought of that.

 

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Bill:
That ain't the half of it. According to Stout, "Larry Lucchino reportedly makes in the mid- seven figures annually, and many GMs are above the million mark. Why? I just don’t get it. Wouldn’t that money have been better spent on some players? I mean, for what the Red Sox pay Lucchino they could have closed the A-Rod deal. Who would you rather have?"

 

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Mike:
I want Lucchino! I want Lucchino! Yeah, who wants the best player in baseball when you can have a redundant executive? [Laughs]

 

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Bill:
Yeah, read the whole thing. Stout isn't what you'd call enamored of the troika over on Yawkey Way.

 

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Earlier, the Red Sox open the '04 season with a 7-2 loss to the Orioles …

Doug:
Martone is tough on Pedro this morning.

 

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Mike:
Whatevs. Pedro hasn't won an Opening Day start in, like, forever.

 

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Doug:
Still, I'm not really happy with the nine baserunners in six innings or the fastball peaking at 91.

 

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Elsewhere in the office …

Bill:
I see Belth has an interview with your boyfriend Bill James.

 

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Tara:
Love what he says about V-Tek, "My favorite player to watch on the Red Sox is Jason Varitek. Jason has a lot of hustle and a lot of leadership, plus he has a lot of subtle skills that you don’t see unless you focus on him."

 

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Bill:
Good to hear not all S.A.B.R dudes are anti-Varitek.

 

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Tara:
You're referring the bit in Moneyball where Beane's first decision as the Red Sox GM would have been ditching V-Tek? Never quite understood that either.

 

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Bill:
You worried about Pedro?

 

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Tara:
Well, not his health or pitching ability so much as fan perception …

 

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Bill:
" Marteamez Takes Off Early" [Laughter]

 

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Tara:
Tough crowd.

 

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Comments

[Tim]

This is neat! Found you via baseballmusings; will have to check more regularly...